Grit (TV network)
 | |
| Type | Digital broadcast television network (Movies) |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Availability | Nationwide via OTA digital television (covering 80% of the U.S.)[1] |
| Founded | April 3, 2014 by Jonathan Katz |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Owner | Grit Media, LLC |
| Parent | Katz Broadcasting, LLC |
Key people | Jonathan Katz (president/CEO, Katz Broadcasting) Bill Cox (SVP of programming, Grit)[2] |
Launch date | August 18, 2014[3] |
Picture format | 480i (SDTV) |
| Affiliates | List of Grit affiliates |
Official website | www |
Grit is an American digital multicast television network that is owned by Katz Broadcasting.[4] The network primarily focuses on feature films, and is targeted at men between the ages of 25 and 54 years old; although the network mainly competes with digital multicast networks such as This TV, Movies! and GetTV, the network's gender-targeted format is similar to that of Tuff TV and cable channels such as Spike and Esquire Network.
The network is available in many media markets via the digital subchannels of broadcast television stations and on the digital tiers of select cable providers through a local affiliate of the network.
Originally, Katz sold the network to affiliated TV stations via ad split but by October 2015 had moved to a carriage fees in exchange for the network get the ad inventory due to greater inventory with stations adding a third or fourth subchannel.[5]1 Grit used direct response advertising as a meter of viewers before switching to Nielsen rating C-3.[5]3
History
Grit was announced by Katz Broadcasting along with a sister network Escape on April 3, 2014, with a formal launch scheduled for that summer with initial affiliates announced at this time being Univision Communications owned stations.[4] On August 11, 2014, Katz announced that the two networks would launch simultaneously on August 18. Grit launched at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on that date,[6] with the 1952 film High Noon as the network's inaugural broadcast, leading off a week-long festival of John Wayne films.[3]
Katz estimated, based on direct response advertising business by September 2015, the network had over 250,000 prime time viewer and available in 91 million homes and 81% of the country. At that time, Grit along with its sister network, Escape, were signing up for national ratings from Nielsen. Previously handling the network's direct response advertising, Marathon Ventures would continue after the change over with advertising and sponsorship sales.[7]
Programming
Grit's program schedule relies primarily on theatrically released western and action films, as well as a limited amount of acquired television series distributed for first-run and off-network syndication, such as Laramie, and Walker, Texas Ranger.[8] Katz Broadcasting president and CEO Jonathan Katz based the demographic-targeted concept of Escape and Grit after Bounce TV, a network Katz co-founded with Martin Luther King III and Andrew Young in 2011 that is targeted at African American audiences. Katz stated Escape and Grit are "the country’s first ever male-centric and female-centric broadcast networks," featuring different programming from other classic television multicast networks that Katz referred to as "generic brands with generic names, created by studios to serve the studios."[9]
Movies
Grit's program schedule relies primarily on an extensive library of films through multi-year program licensing agreements with several major film studios: Warner Bros. Pictures,[10] Universal Pictures,[11] Paramount Pictures [12] and Sony Pictures Entertainment.[13]
Affiliates
As of March 2015, Grit has current or pending affiliation agreements with television stations covering approximately 78% of the United States.[14]
When the network was first announced, Grit entered into an affiliation agreement with Univision Communications, which launched the network in 24 markets served by a station owned by the group or operated through local marketing agreements with Entravision Communications – giving Grit affiliates in 12 of the 20 largest U.S. television markets (including markets such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas-Fort Worth). The network immediately sought carriage on the digital subchannels of television stations owned by other broadcasting companies;[4] on June 17, 2014, Katz signed group deals to carry Grit on stations owned and/or operated by Raycom Media in 26 markets.[15]
On July 17, 2014, Katz announced affiliation deals with the Cox Media Group to carry Grit on WFTV in Orlando and KMYT-TV in Tulsa; as well as KJWP in the Philadelphia market, and Citadel Communications-owned stations in Providence (WLNE-TV) and Lincoln (KLKN). It also expanded its affiliation deal with Univision Communications to add stations in Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Phoenix to the network's originally announced Univision-owned charter affiliates.[16][17]
On October 9, 2014, the Sinclair Broadcast Group announced that it would carry the network on stations it owns and/or operates in 47 markets.[18]
On November 16, 2015, Katz announced an affiliation deal with Media General adding the network to five more markets.[19]
List of affiliates
| City of license/market | Station[20] | Virtual channel |
Owner | Notes † |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | ||||
| Birmingham | WBRC | 6.3 | Raycom Media | Launched August 18, 2014 |
| Huntsville | WAFF | 48.3 | ||
| Montgomery | WSFA | 12.3 | ||
| Mobile-Pensacola- Fort Walton Beach |
WJTC | 44.2 | Deerfield Media | Launched January 1, 2015 |
| Ozark (Dothan) | WDFX-TV | 34.3 | Raycom Media | Launched August 18, 2014 |
Arizona | ||||
| Phoenix | KFPH-CD | 35.2 | Univision Communications | Launched August 18, 2014 |
| Tucson | KOLD-TV | 13.3 | Raycom Media | |
California | ||||
| Bakersfield | KBAK-TV | 29.3 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched May 2015 |
| Eureka | K39KR-D | 39.3 | Sinclair Broadcasting Group | Translator of Satellite Station KCBY-TV |
| Hanford (Fresno) | KFTV-DT | 21.4 | Univision Communications | Launched August 18, 2014 |
| Ontario (Los Angeles) | KFTR-DT | 46.4 | ||
| Vallejo (San Francisco– Oakland–San Jose) |
KFSF-DT | 66.4 | ||
| Stockton (Sacramento) | KTFK-DT | 64.4 | ||
Colorado | ||||
| Sterling (Denver) | KCDO-TV | 3.2 | Channel 3 TV Company LLC | TBD |
Connecticut | ||||
| New Haven | WCTX-TV | 59.2 | Media General | TBD |
Delaware | ||||
| Wilmington (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) | KJWP | 2.3 | PMCM TV, LLC | Launched August 18, 2014 |
Florida | ||||
| Hollywood (Miami) | WAMI-DT | 69.4 | Univision Communications | Launched August 18, 2014 |
| Orlando | WRDQ | 27.4 | Cox Media Group | |
| Panama City | WPGX | 28.3 | Raycom Media | |
| Tampa–St. Petersburg | WFTS-TV | 28.3 | E. W. Scripps Company | |
| West Palm Beach | WFLX | 29.3 | Raycom Media (operated by the E. W. Scripps Company) |
Launched August 18, 2014 |
Georgia | ||||
| Albany | WFXL | 31.3 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched Jan. 2015 ?? |
| Atlanta | WGCL-TV | 46.3 | Meredith Corporation | Launched TBD[14] |
| Augusta | WFXG | 54.3 | Raycom Media | Launched August 18, 2014 |
| Columbus | WTVM | 9.3 | ||
| Savannah | WTOC-TV | 11.3 | Launched March 18, 2015 | |
Hawaii | ||||
| Honolulu | KHNL | 13.3 | Raycom Media | Launched August 18, 2014 |
Idaho | ||||
| Boise | KBOI-TV | 2.3 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched December 31, 2014 |
Illinois | ||||
| Joliet (Chicago) | WGBO-DT | 66.3 | Univision Communications | Launched August 18, 2014 |
| Springfield | WICS-TV | 20.3 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched January 2, 2015 |
Iowa | ||||
| Cedar Rapids-Waterloo-Dubuque-Iowa City | KFXA-TV | 28.2 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
| Des Moines | KDSM-TV | 17.3 | ||
| Ottumwa–Keokuk, IA–Kirksville, MO | KYOU-TV | 15.3 | American Spirit Media (operated by Raycom Media) |
Launched August 18, 2014 |
Kentucky | ||||
| Bowling Green | WCZU-LD | 39.4 | DTV America Corporation | Launches February 2016 |
| Lexington | WDKY-TV | 56.3 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched December 31, 2014 |
| Louisville | WAVE | 3.2 | Raycom Media | Launched August 18, 2014 |
| Newport (Cincinnati, Ohio) | WXIX-TV | 19.3 | Launched July 2015 | |
Louisiana | ||||
| Baton Rouge | WBXH-CD | 39.3 | Raycom Media | Also on Cox Cable 128 (including Franklin/Patterson Market) |
| Lake Charles | KPLC | 7.2 | Raycom Media | Launched Dec. 31, 2015 |
| New Orleans | WVUE-DT | 8.3 | Louisiana Media Company (operated by Raycom Media) | |
| Shreveport | KSLA | 12.2 | Raycom Media | |
Maine | ||||
| Waterville | WPFO | 23.2 | Corporate Media Consultants Group (operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group) |
|
Maryland | ||||
| Baltimore | WUTB | 24.2 | Deerfield Media | Launched October 2014 |
Massachusetts | ||||
| New Bedford (Providence, Rhode Island) | WLNE-TV | 6.2 | Citadel Communications | Launched August 18, 2014 |
Michigan | ||||
| Battle Creek–Kalamazoo–Grand Rapids | WOTV | 41.3 | Media General | Launched January 2016 |
| Bay City–Saginaw–Flint | WBSF | 46.3 | Cunningham Broadcasting (operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group) |
Launched January 2015 |
Mississippi | ||||
| Jackson | WDBD | 40.3 | Raycom Media | Launched October 2014 |
Missouri | ||||
| Cape Girardeau–Paducah, KY | KFVS | 12.3 | Raycom Media | Launched October 6, 2014 |
| Jefferson City–Columbia | KRCG | 13.3 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched January 3, 2015 |
| St. Louis | KDNL-TV | 30.3 | Launched December 31, 2014 | |
Nebraska | ||||
| Lincoln | KLKN | 8.2 | Citadel Communications | Launched August 18, 2014 |
| Omaha | KXVO | 15.3 | Mitts Telecasting Company (operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group) |
|
New Hampshire | ||||
| Derry (Boston, Massachusetts) | WBIN-TV | 50.3 | Carlisle One Media | Launched December 2014 |
New Jersey | ||||
| Paterson (New York City) | WXTV-DT | 41.4 | Univision Communications | Launched August 18, 2014 |
New Mexico | ||||
| Albuquerque | KWBQ | 19.2 | Tamer Media | Launched January 11, 2016 |
New York | ||||
| Albany | WCWN | 45.2 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | launched in March 2015 |
| Buffalo | WUTV | 29.3 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
| Rochester | WHAM-TV | 13.3 | Deerfield Media | launched in late 2014 |
| Syracuse | WTVH | 5.2 | Granite Broadcasting Corporation (operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group) |
launched in January 2015 |
North Carolina | ||||
| Asheville | WLOS-TV | 13.3 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched January 2, 2015 |
| Charlotte | WBTV | 3.3 | Raycom Media | Launched October 8, 2014 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville | WRDC | 28.2 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
| Wilmington | WSFX-TV | 26.3 | American Spirit Media (operated by Raycom Media) |
Launched August 18, 2014 |
| Winston-Salem–Greensboro–High Point | WXLV-TV | 45.3 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched January 2, 2015 |
North Dakota | ||||
| Fargo/Valley City/Grand Forks | KRDK | 4.6 (38) | Major Market Broadcasting | |
Ohio | ||||
| Cincinnati | WXIX-TV | 19.3 | Raycom Media | Launched July 2015 |
| Columbus | WWHO | 53.2 | Manham Media (Operated by Sinclair Broadcasting Group) |
Launched January 1, 2015 |
| Dayton | WKEF | 22.4 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched January 1, 2015 on 22.3; December 4, 2015, moved to 22.4 |
| Lorain (Cleveland) | WUAB | 43.3 | Raycom Media | Launched August 18, 2014 |
| Toledo | WTOL | 11.3 | Launched November 18, 2014 | |
Oklahoma | ||||
| Oklahoma City | KOKH-TV | 25.2 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched December 31, 2014 |
| Tulsa | KMYT-TV | 41.3 | Cox Media Group | TBD |
Oregon | ||||
| Eugene | KVAL-TV | 13.3 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched December 31, 2014 |
| Portland | KUNP-LD | 47.3 | ||
Pennsylvania | ||||
| Lancaster–Lebanon–York–Harrisburg | WLYH-TV | 15.2 | Howard Stirk Holdings (Operated by Sinclair Broadcasting Group) |
Launched December 2014 |
| Johnstown–Altoona–State College | WJAC-TV | 6.4 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched December 2014 |
| Pittsburgh | WPGH-TV | 53.3 | ||
South Carolina | ||||
| Charleston | WCSC-TV | 5.3 | Raycom Media | Launch TBD |
| Columbia | WIS | 10.2 | ||
| Myrtle Beach | WMBF-TV | 32.3 | Launched August 18, 2014 | |
Tennessee | ||||
| Jackson | WYJJ-LD | 27.5 | DTV America Corporation | Launched February 2016 |
| Knoxville | WTNZ | 43.3 | Raycom Media | Launched August 18, 2014 |
| Memphis | WMC | 5.3 | ||
| Nashville | WNAB | 58.3 | Sinclair Broadcasting Group | |
Texas | ||||
| Amarillo | KVII-TV | 7.3 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched December 29, 2014 |
| Alvin (Houston) | KFTH-DT | 67.3 | Univision Communications | Launched August 18, 2014 |
| Austin | KNVA | 54.2 | Media General | TBD[22] |
| Beaumont–Port Arthur | KFDM | 6.3 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched December 29, 2014 |
| El Paso | KFOX-TV | 14.3 | Launched December 22, 2014 | |
| Irving (Dallas–Fort Worth) | KSTR-DT | 49.3 | Univision Communications | Launched August 18, 2014 |
| Lubbock | KCBD | 11.3 | Raycom Media | |
| San Antonio | KWEX-DT | 41.3 | Univision Communications | |
Virginia | ||||
| Arlington (Washington, D.C.) | WFDC-DT | 14.3 | Univision Communications (operated by Entravision Communications |
Launched August 18, 2014 |
| Ashland (Richmond) | WUPV | 65.3 | Raycom Media | |
| Norfolk | WTVZ-TV | 33.3 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched December 31, 2014 |
Washington | ||||
| Seattle | KOMO-TV | 4.3 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched December 31, 2014 |
| Yakima | KIMA-TV | 29.3 | ||
West Virginia | ||||
| Charleston–Huntington | WCHS-TV | 8.3 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | |
Wisconsin | ||||
| Green Bay | WACY-TV | 32.2 | The E.W. Scripps Company | Launched August 11, 2015 |
| Madison | WMSN-TV | 47.3 | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Launched December 2014 |
| Milwaukee | WCGV | 24.3 | Launched December 30, 2014 | |
References
- ^ Downey, Kevin (18 May 2015). "Scripps in Multi-Net Deal For Katz Diginets". tvnewscheck.com. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
...which brings Grit to 93 million homes and 80% of the U.S.
- ^ "Cox, Naar named Grit, Escape Programmers". TVNewsCheck. July 22, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
- ^ a b "Grit, Escape Diginets To Launch Aug. 18". TVNewsCheck. August 11, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ^ a b c Lafayette, Jon (April 3, 2014). "Exclusive: Bounce TV Exec Plans Two New Channels". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media, LLC. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
- ^ a b Jessell, Harry A. (October 13, 2015). "OTA The Bedrock of Katz's Growing Diginets". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
- ^ "New Grit and Escape Networks Set For August 18 Launch". August 11, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ^ Lafayette, Jon (September 15, 2015). "Diginets Grit and Escape Sign Up for National Ratings". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
- ^ Lafayette, Jon (June 3, 2015). "Grit Network Buys Rights to 'Walker'". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media, LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
- ^ Guider, Elizabeth (June 18, 2014). "Classic TV Diginets Make The Old New Again". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ^ Downey, Kevin (June 10, 2014). "Grit, Escape Diginets In Warner Bros. Deal". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ^ "Grit & Escape Add 157 NBCU Movies To Library". TVNewsCheck. June 24, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ^ "Paramount Movies Added to Escape, Grit Networks". Broadcasting & Cable. July 22, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ^ "Grit, Escape Add Sony Pictures Films". TVNewsCheck. September 3, 2014.
- ^ a b Lafayette, Jon (March 20, 2015). "Meredith To Carry Grit, Escape, LAFF Networks". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media, LLC. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
- ^ "Raycom To Carry New Escape, Grit Diginets". TVNewsCheck. June 17, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ^ "Escape, Grit Diginets Expand Market Reach". TVNewsCheck. July 17, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (July 17, 2014). "Cox, Univision & Others to Launch New Networks Escape and Grit in Major Markets". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ^ Lafayette, Jon (October 9, 2014). "Sinclair to Carry New Grit Multicast Network". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media, LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
- ^ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/katz-broadcasting-announces-major-distribution-agreements-with-media-general-and-tribune-media-300179251.html
- ^ "Stations for Network - Grit". RabbitEars.info. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ^ http://www.grittv.com/find-us/#albany_ny
- ^ Gary Dinges (November 16, 2015). "Austin viewers get 2 new over-the-air TV networks". Austin American-Statesman.
External links
- www
.grittv .com Official website